Charles Spurgeon Commentary Jeremiah 3:12

"Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith Jehovah; I will not look in anger upon you; for I am merciful, saith Jehovah, I will not keep [anger] for ever." — Jeremiah 3:12 (ASV)

Go and proclaim these words towards the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD. And I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.

The offense was foul. It is an offense of a kind that stabs at the heart of a man's honor. It is an offense which a man will scarcely ever forgive, But God calls His wandering Israel to come back, and proclaims mercy – free mercy – even to such gross transgressors.

And say, Return, you backsliding Israel, says the LORD; and I will not cause my anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, says the LORD, and I will not keep anger forever.

Oh, the measureless mercy of these gracious sentences! Deep and black as the sin is, and fearful and terrible as is the description of it, how bright, how clear is the immeasurable love which promises to put that sin away, and forget and forgive it once for all!